Hopes plans to pedestrianise Lloyds Avenue in Ipswich would ‘transform gateway to town centre’

Hopes have been raised that a scheme to pedestrianise an Ipswich street will ‘transform the gateway to the town centre’.

Ipswich Borough Council formally lodged plans for the £1.4 million redevelopment of Lloyds Avenue last week.

Under the proposals, the arch at the end of Lloyds Avenue would be refurbished and vehicle access would be cut off about halfway down.

In addition, the number of taxi rank muster points would be reduced from 21 to 10, phone booths would be removed and trees would be planted.

Stuart Edgar, associate director of KLH Architects, said the firm was delighted to support Ipswich Borough Council, which he hoped would breathe new life into the gateway to the town centre.

He said: "The new-look Lloyds Avenue will be a modern, accessible and inviting space that honours the rich history of the area while bringing it into the 21st century.

"It will also act as an extension of the Greener Ipswich scheme, providing more tree-lined outdoor spaces that will not only bring colour and biodiversity to the town centre, but provide lucrative outdoor space for hospitality businesses in Lloyds Avenue.

"We are pleased to have seen a high level of support for the plans among the public and look forward to supporting the council further as the planning process progresses."

The Lloyds Avenue scheme forms part of a wider vision to create a ‘green’ route between Ipswich town centre and the waterfront.

A public consultation ran from August to September last year and saw support from local businesses.

These included Unex, which owns the former Debenhams, which felt it could help fill the large unit which has lain vacant since 2021 and the Three Wise Monkeys, which hoped the space would generate more footfall – and could be used for live events.

A spokesperson for the borough council said the scheme matched the authority’s priorities to create a thriving, accessible space for the community.

Improvements included better pedestrian access by increasing walking space and the opportunity for more outdoor seating for businesses, plus green spaces, they said.

“The public consultation, which closed on 29 September 2024, demonstrated overwhelming support for these proposals. Over half of respondents indicated they would likely spend more time in the town centre as a result of the improvements,” the spokesperson added.

“By prioritising pedestrians, incorporating better lighting, and introducing greenery, the redevelopment will deliver a higher-quality urban design that creates a more inviting, accessible, and thriving town centre for everyone.”

Lee Walker, chief executive of Ipswich Central Business Improvement District (BID), said businesses were looking forward to the scheme, believing it would be to the town’s benefit.

He previously told SuffolkNews of his support for the plans.

Mr Walker said: “The pedestrianisation of Lloyds Avenue is something that businesses in the town centre are looking forward to seeing realised for the benefit of the town.”

“Enhancing this area will provide a better experience for visitors to the town centre, improve the frontage for businesses here and provide an extension of the Cornhill public dwell space, which are all positives for the town.”

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